Sports Network

JUPITER, FL - St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright underwent successful Tommy John surgery on Monday, according to a report on the team's website.

Wainwright left spring training last week to have his right elbow examined in St. Louis. Surgery was deemed necessary shortly thereafter, effectively ending the ace's season before it started.

The 29-year-old was 20-11 with a 2.42 earned run average in 33 starts last season, finishing second to Philadelphia's Roy Halladay in the National League Cy Young voting. He missed his final scheduled turn in 2010 because of a forearm strain.

Wainwright helped the Cardinals to the World Series title in 2006 as a reliever, notching four saves in the postseason. He moved into the starting rotation in 2007 and has posted a record of 64-34 in 119 starts over the past four seasons.